Millwright Careers | Millwright Jobs | Millwrights
Millwright Jobs - What is the Job of a Millwright ? What does a Millwright Career Involve?
Millwright jobs are responsible for installing, repairing, and dismantling machinery that is used in power plants, which can include wind power, gas turbines, and hydroelectric power, which may be used in manufacturing facilities, construction sites, and mining operations. New technology is spurring the development of high precision machines which have to be accurate to the width of a human hair, and millwrights are uniquely positioned to take advantage of these new jobs.
A millwright job begins when a new piece of machinery arrives in a manufacturing plant, at which point a millwright will inspect it and move it into place, which may require rigging instruments such as pulleys, as heavy manufacturing machinery can weigh hundreds of tons. Some large bolts may themselves weigh a few 100 pounds.
A millwright will then begin to assemble the necessary machinery, reading blueprints in order to fit the bearings, motors, and belts together according to the manufacturers design. Millwrights will use laser alignment tools in order to get the necessary amount of precision, and a millwright job may also using cutting torches and welding machines to aid in their work. Other tools that a millwright will use can include soldering guns, torque wrenches, lathes, and grinding machines.
Besides simply installing machinery, a millwright will also repair damaged equipment in association with industrial mechanics. A millwrights job is to replace worn parts on a machine or to perform routine maintenance such as lubricating gears and making sure that the machine is full of the necessary fluids so that it does not overheat.
Since machinery is becoming more specialized, millwrights are increasingly selecting one area in which to become an expert, such as maintaining turbines in power plants.
Working Conditions for Millwright Jobs - How is the Working Environment for Millwrights?
The working environment for millwrights jobs can include a machine shop or construction site, or a manufacturing or industrial facility. Workplace hazards of millwright employment include burns, falling objects, and falls from heights.
Since millwright careers are highly specialized, millwrights may have to travel long distances in order to reach their place of employment. Millwrights will often work as part of a team, and damaged machinery will typically cost a manufacturing plant massive amounts of money a day, so it is common for millwrights to work overtime and in shifts.
Millwright Training - How to Become a Millwright - How to Receive Millwright Training
Millwright training usually involves a four or five year apprenticeship program that combines practical experience with classroom instruction at a community college. Millwright apprenticeship training will involve learning how to dismantle, repair, and move heavy machinery, and millwright trainees will also be taught skills such as carpentry, welding, and sheet metal work.
Classroom teaching for millwrights can include reading prints, hydraulics, conveyor belt systems, computers, machining, and electricity. Millwrights will usually attain further training even after graduation as factories upgrade their equipment.
Millwright Job Requirements - How to Obtain Millwright Certification
Other skills that a millwright should have include strength and mechanical expertise, in addition to being able to work as part of a team. Millwrights will usually receive higher wages as they gain experience, and some may decide to become self employed contractors.
Millwright Employment - What are the Future Employment Prospects for Millwright Jobs?
Over the next decade, millwright employment should grow by about 6%, and the systems that millwrights install allow domestic manufacturing companies to remain competitive with cheaper foreign labor. Warehouses and shipping companies use conveyor systems which must be maintained by millwrights, and new energy alternative technology such as wind power and solar chip manufacturing are also requiring the services of millwright careers.
Negative factors affecting millwright employment include foreign competition in the manufacturing industry, but overall those who wish to obtain the necessary millwright training will have excellent job opportunities. Millwrights are trained to work in numerous different situations, so once one area of employment dries up, the millwright can simply move to another.
Millwright Salary Pay Scale - How Much Do Millwright Workers Earn?
In 2006, millwright jobs had hourly earnings on median of $21.94, while pulp and paper mills having the highest rate of pay at $25.43. Sawmills had the lowest rate of pay of $17.55, and almost half of professional millwrights are members of labor unions.